Frankel, who Monday said Mast Track was out of the Breeders’ Cup because of a quarter crack, entered the 4-year-old colt in Saturday’s $1 million Dirt Mile after he discovered Tuesday morning that the injury was not as serious as first believed.

“The quarter crack is in his right front, on the outside,” said Frankel, owner, breeder and trainer of the son of Mizzen Mast. “It’s a small one; you could even say it is tiny. My blacksmith wanted to put a patch on it, but I told him I didn’t think it was that bad.”

Mast Track, a gate-to-wire winner of the Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup in June, had been cross-entered in both the $5 million Classic and the Dirt Mile, with first preference the Classic. But Frankel believes his colt fits better in the Dirt Mile.

Frankel also gets a break in entry fees, paying only $25,000 to get Mast Track into the Dirt Mile as opposed to the $125,000 he would have had to put up to run in the Classic.

“It’s a better spot for him,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “He fits better there, and the money is a whole lot less. The money is a factor, absolutely.”

Asmussen, who cross-entered Pyro in the Classic and Dirt Mile, with first preference the Dirt Mile, said he decided late Monday night to enter his 3-year-old colt in the Dirt Mile after conferring with owner Ron Winchell.

Monday morning, Asmussen said he was going to enter Pyro in the Classic because he thought the son of Pulpit was better suited for the 1 1/4-mile distance.

“I am still concerned with how fast the racetrack has been playing,” Asmussen said. “Will he have time to catch anybody going a mile? That’s the concern. But things change day to day and we’ll see how the track itself comes up in front of him.”

The Breeders’ Cup Classic, scheduled to go postward at about 3:45 p.m. Saturday, drew a field of 12, including reigning Horse of the Year and 7-5 morning-line favorite Curlin, who landed the No. 9 post and will be ridden by regular jockey Robby Albarado.

Asmussen says he has a similar feeling going into the Classic as he did before Curlin made his turf debut on July 12 at Belmont Park in the Grade I Man o’ War Stakes and finished second. The 4-year-old Smart Strike colt will be making his first start on an artificial surface – Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride synthetic main track – in the Classic.

Asmussen was asked if he wished the race was going to be run at Belmont Park.

“I think we’re talking about Curlin because of his accomplishments on the dirt,” he said.

Zenyatta, the 4-year-old filly who will bring an 8-0 record into Friday’s inaugural all-female Breeders’ Cup card, drew the rail for the first time in her career in the $2 million Ladies’ Classic and was installed as the 3-5 morning-line pick – the heaviest favorite of the 14 Breeders’ Cup races.

“More important than the post is how the race unfolds,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “I’m fine with the post position.”